Carl Froch has insisted a prospective rematch with Lucian Bute on enemy territory holds no fears for him, after the Canadian looked unimpressive on his return to the ring on Saturday.

Bute defeated Denis Grachev in a somewhat laborious light-heavyweight contest in Montreal at the weekend, in his first fight since being demolished by Froch in Nottingham in May.

The 32-year-old has the right to a rematch against Froch - on home soil - written into the contract the pair signed for their initial fight, and Froch insists he is ready and willing to cross the Atlantic to finish him off once and for all.

"Let's be honest, it wasn't the most impressive performance from Lucian Bute that I've ever seen," Froch told Sky Sports. "It wasn't vintage by any stretch of the imagination.

"Bute didn't really impress, but it was a comeback fight from a devastating defeat against myself, so what did people expect? He needed to find his feet again, find his confidence. I'm sure he's done that. I think mentally he needed to get that fight in the bag.

"He's got the win and done what he needed to do to re-establish himself. Now I'm hoping the rematch will happen.

"It's his chance to try and get back the IBF world title I took from him, but he'll have the home advantage this time.

"As a team, we're hoping he takes the fight so I can go out there and give him another pasting."

He added: "I believe going on the road to Montreal will inspire me. I've been on the road to box many times - I've been to Denmark, Finland, Connecticut and Atlantic City twice.

"It's not a really daunting prospect to go over to Montreal and face Bute. This is someone I've beaten before and I'm very confident."

Froch will be hoping to impress on his next appearance inside the ring, against Yusuf Mack on November 17.